Visit Belfast was crowned winner of the Best Tourism or Convention Bureau category at this year’s micebook Awards. We take a closer look at the team’s winning entry…

Visit Belfast is Belfast’s official destination marketing and management organisation (DMMO) and Convention Bureau, backed by both the public and private sector, with partners including hotels, venues, attractions, suppliers, transport, experience providers and DMCs/PCOs.

A not-for-profit organisation, the CVB team provides a range of services for event organisers including free venue and accommodation search, hosted site visits and FAMs, destination marketing support, sourcing suppliers and experiences, a dedicated sustainability and impact manager and support service and more. New business won in 2022-23 was valued at £31m economic impact, representing a 51% increase year-on-year.

Visit Belfast’s leadership and commitment on sustainability has driven transformational change across the city. In 2022, Belfast was ranked 8th in the world by the Global Destinations Sustainability Index – it is one of only two UK cities, and the only destination in Ireland to make the Top 10.

Visit Belfast is now a certified DMO with Green Tourism, 78% of hotel bedrooms are sustainability certified, and 10 CSR initiatives have been developed for event organisers coming to Belfast. Visit Belfast also partnered with The People’s Kitchen and industry partners to launch Changing the Menu for Good to help tackle food poverty in Belfast through the power of events. The project, which will run as a pilot into next year, is designed to drive more sustainable events and to promote social impact and legacy in local communities.

Judges were impressed by Visit Belfast’s sustainable initiatives. “I loved the case studies. The submission made me want to work with them,” said one.